Small-scale local community recreation opportunities are key to Edmonton bringing more families back to mature neighbourhoods, reducing urban sprawl, and achieving the "15 minute communities" outlined in the Edmonton City Plan.
With Scona Pool (attached to Strathcona High School) coming to end of life, community advocates including the Friends of Scona Rec, community leagues, businesses, neighbours, students and school partners and many others have tirelessly advocated for the establishment of a replacement opportunity: a new local mini-recreation centre, Rollie Miles.
Now many of us-- myself included -- have many happy memories of Scona pool and the enormous contributions it has made to the community and Strathcona High School. Looking forward, we must remind City Hall -- "It's not what you take away, it's what you leave behind. Let's leave behind a future of local recreation and new opportunities for all.
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Updates (April 2026):
I put forward the following inquiry to see if we can escalate the completion of the Rec Centre this fall budget.
Can Administration provide a report to City Council with the following information:
- Commitments made by previous councils or administration following the closure of the Scona Pool.
- Planning, design, and development work to date on the Rollie Miles Recreation Centre.
- Capital cost estimates for the construction of the facility.
- Operating cost estimates and tax implications for the operations of the facility.
- Population growth or demographic/recreation data and projections in the Scona District.
- Accommodations for Strathcona High School Students.
- Other needs assessment that could contribute to advancing the project.
In addition to this motion, wanted to ensure you had the following information readily available to you:
- September 18, 2018 CR_5746 Approach to Community Recreation Facility Planning in Edmonton - Report
- October 3, 2018 CPSC CR_4053 Rollie Miles Athletic Field Master Plan Business Case for Recreation Centre and Pool and Additional Community Consultation -Report
- February 3, 2021 CPSC CR_8024 Innovative Funding Strategies to Build, Operate and Maintain Recreation Centres - Report
- May 16, 2022 CPSC CS00386 Recreation Centre Master Plan - District and Local Level - Funding Strategy Options for Recreation Centres - Report
Updates (March 2020):
There are two separate projects, both of which have been funded to Check Point Three. I will advocate for the bundling of both projects together as we discuss our 10 year capital investment outlook this quarter.
Design for the Rollie Miles Leisure Centre was approved by Council in Spring of 2021 up to PDDM Checkpoint 3. Procurement of the design team is underway with contract award anticipated for Q2 2022.